19th Century U.S. Newspapers, from Gale, provides access to historic primary source newspapers, featuring full content and images from numerous urban and rural publications throughout the U.S. Wisconsin newspapers are well represented.

The Rare Books Collection

The Milwaukee Public Library’s rarities collection gathers, preserves, and provides access to significant materials of historic and aesthetic value for the people of the City of Milwaukee and future generations of residents. Through the rarities collection, the Library acts to preserve Milwaukee’s intellectual heritage and to preserve the collective memory of its cultures.

Although broad in scope, the collection has certain strengths that are developed as the opportunity arises:

Natural History, especially ornithology

Bibles and early religious materials

Native Americans, especially tribes native to Wisconsin

Local History

Milwaukee advertising

Book arts and alternative publications

Using the Collection

Materials from the rare books collection do not circulate, and the stacks are closed to the public, however all materials are accessible for viewing or research upon request. Call the Art, Music, and Recreation department at 414-286-3071 to request an item. The materials in rarities may be searched by using the library’s catalog. Annual completion of a Special Collections Use form is required and will be kept on file in the art department.

Special Collections in the Rare Books Room

Breta Griem Recipe Collection

The Breta Griem collection consists of over nine hundred recipe pamphlets collected by Breta Griem, commentator on WTMJ-TV's "What's New in the Kitchen" program which was on air from 1949-1962. The majority of the collection is recipe pamphlets issued by food product companies but there are also leaflets, recipe cards, clippings and Griem’s personal recipe notebooks.

Autograph Collection

This collection consists of 121 autographs from 101 individuals that range in date from 1816 through 1989. The collection is primarily comprised of letters and postcards both handwritten and typed. Of special interest are letters from Charles Dickens, John Adams, Ludwig van Beethoven, John F. Kennedy and other figures of national and international importance.

Amram Scheinfeld Papers

This collection contains the early work of journalist, author, professional cartoonist, and Milwaukee native Amram Scheinfeld (1897-1979). The items range in date from 1906-1930 and include high school articles, unpublished manuscripts, drawings, press clippings, and scrapbooks.

Milwaukee Concert Poster Collection

The posters in this collection advertise a variety of punk, jazz, and jazz concerts in and around Milwaukee during the early 1980s. Some bands represented include the Violent Femmes, Die Kreuzen, the Ken Dolls, and B.B. King.